Electrophotographically produced barrier images

Abstract

Systems and methods of producing image products using printing are provided. The printed image products can include stereoscopic and/or color shifting images. These images can be formed by a sequential application of a base image, a clear toner layer and a barrier image layer in a single pass through a printer. The barrier image layer can include opaque barriers (for stereoscopic or color shifting images) or can include translucent or transparent barriers (for color shifting images).

1. A method of producing an image product, the method comprising:
 applying a base image comprising a plurality of interdigitated images, to an image receiving surface; 
 applying a clear toner on the base image; and 
 applying a second toner on the clear toner to form at least one barrier, wherein a depth of the clear toner is thinner in portions that are to receive the second toner than portions that do not receive second toner. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second toner is applied to form a plurality of barriers that are arranged to produce a stereoscopic image. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second toner is black. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base image is applied by sequential application of three different color toners. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion image containing two interdigitated images such that a viewing angle change necessary to obscure one image and allow the other image to be viewed is determined by the arctangent of the ratio of the width of the at least one barrier image, which is at least one pixel, to the thickness of the clear layer. 
     
     
       6. A method of producing an image product, the method comprising:
 applying a base image comprising a plurality of interdigitated images, to an image receiving surface; 
 applying a clear toner on the base image; and 
 applying a second toner on the clear toner to form at least one barrier wherein the second toner is transparent, translucent or opaque, is a color other than black, and depending upon viewing angle the at least one barrier shifts viewed color of the base image. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the base image includes a first image applied to a first portion of the image receiving surface, and a second image applied to a second portion of the image receiving surface. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first image is comprised of three colors and the second image is comprised of four colors, including a color of the second toner. 
     
     
       9. A method of producing an image product, the method comprising:
 receiving printer commands, and in response to the printer commands the method comprises 
 controlling a first print module to apply a base image comprising a plurality of interdigitated images to an image receiving surface; 
 controlling a second print module to apply a clear toner on the base image; and 
 controlling a third print module to apply a second toner on the clear toner to form at least one barrier wherein a depth of the clear toner is thinner in portions that are to receive the second toner than portions that do not receive second toner. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second toner is applied to form a plurality of barriers that are arranged to produce a stereoscopic image from the base image. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second toner is black. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the base image is applied by sequential application of three different color toners. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a motion image containing two interdigitated images such that a viewing angle change necessary to obscure one image and allow the other image to be viewed is determined by the arctangent of the ratio of the width of the at least one barrier image, which is at least one pixel, to the thickness of the clear layer. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the base image includes a first image applied to a first portion of the image receiving surface, and
 a second image applied to a second portion of the image receiving surface. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first image is comprised of three colors and the second image is comprised of four colors, including a color of the second toner. 
     
     
       16. A method of producing an image product, the method comprising:
 receiving printer commands, and in response to the printer commands the method comprises 
 controlling a first print module to apply a base image comprising a plurality of interdigitated images to an image receiving surface; 
 controlling a second print module to apply a clear toner on the base image; and 
 controlling a third print module to apply a second toner on the clear toner to form at least one barrier wherein the second toner is transparent, translucent or opaque, is a color other than black, and depending upon viewing angle the at least one barrier shifts viewed color of the base image. 
 
     
     
       17. A print on a receiver member, said print exhibiting stereoscopic, color-shifting or motion imaging effects, comprising:
 fused image toner coverage on said receiver member providing a desired interdigitated print image, a thickness of fused clear separator toner coverage on the interdigitated print image and fused barrier toner coverage, on areas of the separator toner coverage in areas of said receiver member where barriers limit the visibility of at least one of the interdigitated print images from at least one viewing angle in order to yield at least one of a the stereoscopic, color-shifting or motion imaging effects 
 wherein the images comprise at least two interdigitated images such that a viewing angle change necessary to obscure one image and allow the other image to be viewed is determined by the arctangent of the ratio of the width of the at least one barrier image, which is at least one pixel, to the thickness of the clear layer. 
 
     
     
       18. A method of producing an image product, the method comprising:
 applying a base image to an image receiving surface; 
 applying a clear toner on the base image; and 
 applying a second toner on the clear toner to form at least one barrier wherein the second toner overlays a portion of the base image, wherein the depth of the clear toner is thinner in portions that are to receive the second toner.